WHS forum Wednesday aims to 'bridge gaps'

HAMPTON — Winnacunnet High School officials are hoping a community forum Wednesday will help staff, parents, students and residents "bridge some of the gaps of communication" about the issues facing the area's youth.

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By Kyle Stucker

seacoastonline.com

By Kyle Stucker

Posted Apr. 8, 2014 at 7:10 AM

By Kyle Stucker
Posted Apr. 8, 2014 at 7:10 AM

» Social News

HAMPTON — Winnacunnet High School officials are hoping a community forum Wednesday will help staff, parents, students and residents "bridge some of the gaps of communication" about the issues facing the area's youth.

School social worker Talley Westerberg said Wednesday's School Culture Awareness Forum will allow members of the Winnacunnet community to discuss bullying, alcohol use, drug use and other aspects of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey results in small group settings.

"We've found it doesn't really help to just throw stats at people (in a large group)," said Westerberg, adding that attendees will be dispersed into smaller groups to discuss the topics before coming back together to discuss possible courses of action. "Often teenagers don't think that adults don't understand them, and often adults don't think teenagers understand them. We hope these breakout sessions will (help) them understand (each other)."

The school is "excited" about various aspects of the YRBS, administered every other year, because the latest survey indicated "decreases in every area of victimization and risky behavior," according to Westerberg.

There still is room for improvement, though, and Westerberg hopes for a large turnout Wednesday so the various parties can work to find solutions for "those issues that remain" and discuss other possible activity about which the individuals are concerned.

Community members have recently voiced concerns about discrimination toward students based on the town in which they live. The concerns are based on personal experiences of past and current students, as well as statements made in last year's New England Association of Schools and Colleges final report. NEASC evaluators stated they observed "evidence of an undercurrent of disrespect between staff and students" and "some instances of staff verbalizing ideas counterproductive to unifying the students from various towns and socioeconomic status."

An online petition created by Seabrook residents is currently calling for the staff members involved to be removed from their posts.

Some current students have posted online and told the Hampton Union that discrimination isn't occurring at WHS, and Westerberg said no students have reported any discrimination or related activity to her.

"I think Winnacunnet does a really nice job supporting kids, personalizing education and creating a safe atmosphere for kids," she said. "People in this building really care about these kids, and it's really evident when you spend time here."